Critique and Analysis of Some Beliefs and Rituals in Marzban-Nama

The relationship between literature and society is interactive, affecting each other in a different  ways. One of the important functions of Persian literary texts is to preserve ancient rituals, tradition and beliefs. Thus, extracting, classifying, and interpreting them are essential  for understanding the past society and eliminating the ambiguities of Marzban-Nama.  Marzban-nama -which was recreated by Sa’d al-din Varavini in a technical prose- was originally written in a simple and uncomplicated style by Emir Marzban, the son-of-Rostam, in the fourth century. Given its Iranian origin, Marzban-Nama is an authentic text that contains diverse ancient  beliefs and rituals in it. Conducted in a descriptive-analytical method based on library sources, the current study seeks to analyze and critique six beliefs and rituals in Marzban-Nama, including the design on the wall, hyena hunting, the snake charmer, the fire-eating bird, the demon and glass, and the impact of the King’s intention on his subjects. To explicate and  analyze these beliefs and rituals, the present article benefited from various sources written in prose and verse. The findings of this points to the importance of Marzban-Nameh in preserving the ancient Iranian culture, its rituals, and beliefs in different fields.